thanks much cletis.
after sleeping and thinking, and re-reading all these tips, i did forget to check the ground i have that comes from the battery to the frame. it very well could be rusty and not making a good ground.
thankfully i didnt drill a second hole in the tail light housing for the second bulb i was gonna run for just the brake lights, because, like you said, it might work now, but soon could not, because of the bad ground.
that has to be it. most times i get frustrated and dont look at the big picture, even when someone is telling me.
i will check back in later this afternoon when i am done messing with it.
thanks so much to all of you.
leonard
